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24
2022
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03
#Magnesium-Lithium Alloy# Latest Mars Imagery #Zhurong Rover’s Latest Selfie#
Recently, the Tianwen‑1 orbiter’s periapsis once again passed over the rover’s traverse area, capturing a 0.5‑meter‑resolution image of the Zhurong rover’s patrol zone, in which the rover’s travel path is clearly visible. At present, the northern hemisphere of Mars has entered autumn. Based on analyses of previous exploration data, autumn is a season when dust storms frequently occur on Mars; however, no significant dust‑storm activity has yet been observed in the Zhurong rover’s patrol area.
Recently, the Tianwen‑1 orbiter’s periapsis once again passed over the rover’s traverse area, capturing a 0.5‑meter‑resolution image of the Zhurong rover’s patrol zone, in which the rover’s travel path is clearly visible. At present, the northern hemisphere of Mars has entered autumn. Based on analyses of previous exploration data, autumn is a season when dust storms frequently occur on Mars; however, no significant dust‑storm activity has yet been observed in the Zhurong rover’s patrol area.
Figure 1: High-resolution camera image of the “Zhurong” rover’s traverse area.
The Zhurong rover has also transmitted a selfie from the Martian surface. Compared with the images taken shortly after landing, it is evident that a thin layer of dust has accumulated on the rover’s exterior. Meanwhile, telemetry data indicate that the solar panels’ power‑generation efficiency has been somewhat reduced, though energy levels remain adequate. To cope with dust accumulation, the rover’s solar arrays feature a specialized design and can employ various measures to mitigate the decline in power output caused by dust; at present, these measures have not yet been activated, and the current energy supply is sufficient to sustain the rover’s mobility and ongoing scientific operations.
(a) Image taken on May 19, 2021 (Sol 5 after landing), with no dust or sand covering the rover’s surface.
(b) Taken on January 22, 2022 (Sol 247 after landing), the rover’s surface exhibits significant dust coverage.
Figure 2: Comparison of rover body images captured by the navigation terrain camera at different stages.
The ultra‑light magnesium‑lithium alloy developed by Xi’an Sifang Ultra‑Light Materials Co., Ltd. has been extensively used in multiple components of the Tianwen‑1 mission, including embedded parts and brackets for the Zhurong rover, as well as structural elements of the Mars rover and spectrometers. As of March 24, 2022, this alloy has supported the Zhurong rover’s operations on the Martian surface for 306 sols, with a cumulative traverse distance of 1,784 meters, and has accompanied the Tianwen‑1 orbiter in orbit for 609 days, currently located 277 million kilometers from Earth. Both spacecraft are operating normally.
Tianwen-1,Orbiter,Mars
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